Thursdays future to be decided (From Free Press Series)

Thursdays future to be decided

THE future of Abergavenny Thursdays is at last set to be decided with Monmouthshire County Council expected to award the lease of the Pen-y-Pound stadium to the Thursdays Trust.

Officers at the council have recommended the lease be awarded to the group ahead of the Abergavenny Community House after deciding it was in a better position to improve the standing of the ground and its facilities. The Community House will instead now work alongside the holders of the lease.

The report's recommendations are now being considered by councillors who have until the end of the week to front their opinions. It is then for the director of resources and customer services in consultation with council members to make the final decision.

"We had a number of positive meetings with all the groups involved, but it was felt it was in the best interest to award the lease to the trust.

Hopefully a final decision will be reached in the next couple of weeks," said recreation officer Tim Bradfield.

If that decision follows officers recommendations then it will mean the club can finally go about improving the ailing ground and regaining its place in the Welsh Premiership after a spiral of successive relegation's over the last 12 years.

"We're really grateful to the council for giving us this opportunity. Football needs a positive show of support on which to build and now its up to us to show that this vote of confidence is justified," said former Thursdays player and Trust member Brian Jones.

The idea of forming a trust to run a football club isn't new. With the support of Supporters Direct, a government initiative that advises communities how to take ownership of their local clubs, supporters trusts are widely recognised as being one of the most effective vehicles for realising the wider potential that a club can offer local people by creating a framework where they can become involved.

The Thursday Trust have already completed a consultation exercise within the town with over 400 individuals and 50 businesses pledging support. Its immediate aim would be to start improving facilities at the ground.

The scheme also assures that The Abergavenny Rifle Club will continue to operate from the ground.

The trust will be holding a series of public meetings over the next two months before its official launch in July. Further details can be found at the trust website at www.thethursdaystrust.co.uk.